The incident took place at about 7:41 a.m. near Ronald E McNair Elementary School in the 4800-block of West Walton Street.
Police said a woman driving a light-colored Chevy sedan was going westbound when it struck the boy, who was in the street.
The boy was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he died, police said.
His family identified him as Anakin Perez.
"I'm just devastated I can't believe what just happened to my grandson," grandmother Valeria Fernandez said.
Witnesses told ABC7 that the driver initially kept driving after the crash, but then came back around to cooperate with police.
The boy's loved ones were still nearby and witnesses rushed into help until first responders arrived.
"When I got here the ambulance was here and I saw the kid bleeding from the head and they wrapped his head up and completely covered his face with a white blanket," neighbor Ardany Granillo said.
The family now urging the city and Chicago Public Schools to add more safe passage areas near the school.
"We should have more guards here more people watching over kids because this is something very dangerous," aunt Yesenia Fernandez said.
37th ward Alderman Emma Mitts joined the family at the growing memorial today outside the school assuring them that she will look into additional safety measures.
"This tragic loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for the entire school, especially our students," Principal Benetrice Whitfield-Lucas said in a letter to the school.
Chicago Public Schools' Crisis Management Unit will be at the school on Thursday and Friday to provide grief counseling .
One man living nearby the scene said there are often a lot of vehicles speeding through this area.
"I saw a lady crying and I asked her, I thought someone attacked her or something but she told me her kid got run over and I came running because I am certified for CPR and first aid so I came to see if I could help because I had not seen the police yet," Ardany Granillo, who lives in the neighborhood, said. "But when I got here the ambulance was here and I saw the kid bleeding from the head they wrapped his head up and completely covered his face with a white blanket."
The driver was taken into custody, but she was later released without charges, CPD said. She was cited for Pedestrian in Roadway - Due Care.
No other injuries were reported and the CPD Major Accident Investigation Unit is investigating.
For now, a memorial is growing outside the school.
"Anakin he loves sports he loves to play basketball football he's very active in school," his grandmother said. "He's just 9 years old like a normal child and I just can't believe what happened to him."
CPS tells us they've made no cuts to their crossing guard program to this school.